PATNA: Chief minister
Nitish Kumar said during the review meeting on Covid convened by PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday that the state government is making preparations for distribution of Covid vaccine, once it is successfully manufactured and available for distribution.
The CM attended the meeting through video-conferencing along with health minister Mangal Pandey and senior officials of health and other departments concerned.
Apart from deliberations on other aspects with CMs of several other states, including Delhi and Maharashtra, NITI Aayog member (health), V K Paul gave a presentation on development of Covid vaccine.
Later in the meeting, CM Nitish said that Bihar government is working with all alertness for prevention of further spread of Covid-19 pandemic. “Arrangements are being made by the state government for distribution of Covid vaccine to people upon its availability,” he said.
Incidentally, BJP has pledged in its manifesto ahead of recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections that Covid vaccine will be distributed for free, if the party comes to power.
Senior BJP functionary and union minister of state for health and family welfare Ashwini Kumar Chaubey, who was also present in the virtual meeting on Tuesday, said the meeting was held in two phases- first with the CMs of eight worst affected states, followed by meeting with CMs of all states and governors of union territories. “The second meeting was related to discussion on distribution of Covid vaccine, its storage and other measures,” he said.
He added: “Few states have seen spurt in Covid cases in the last few days. Accordingly, instructions were issued for increasing the vigil and keeping tab on further spread of the disease.”
Speaking on the issue of Covid vaccine, Chaubey said: “It will be ensured that Covid vaccine is made available to everyone in the country after successful trial. Framework in this regard is being prepared. Feedback is also being taken from stakeholders concerned, so that nobody faces any hassle later.”
Going by the government data, Bihar has been so far doing comparatively better in terms of Covid cases. As per the daily bulletin issued by the health department on Tuesday evening, the recovery rate in Bihar stood at 97.30% with 2,25,447 people having recovered so far. Altogether 1233 people have died due to Covid in Bihar till date, while total number of tests for the virus stood at 1,38,71,236.
Nevertheless, the state government has initiated fresh steps to curb further spread of the virus in the ongoing winter season. According to sources, instructions were issued to district magistrates (DM) and superintendents of police (SP) in the meeting of the crisis management group on Monday to intensify to undertake special drives to check for those not wearing marks or violating other precautions including physical distancing. Civil surgeons and other officials concerned have been asked to conduct random tests at crowded places, including bus stands, airports and vegetable markets among others.